Omega Ensemble to unveil world first contemporary work on Winter regional tour to Central West NSW
Omega Ensemble Artistic Director David Rowden will play clarinet on their Winter Regional Tour across the NSW Central West region. Image: Keith Saunders
One of Australia’s most dynamic chamber music groups – Omega Ensemble – will headline independent touring organisation Music in the Regions’ Winter tour across the Central West region of NSW from 22 July to 31 July.
The Winter Regional Tour will see Omega Ensemble perform a high-energy program, from Mozart’s cherished Clarinet Quintet to the world premiere of a new contemporary Australian work by Australian composer Carl Vine.
The Ensemble will perform at Forbes, Parkes, Canowindra, Portland and Oberon, and will also take part in community engagement events in partnership with regional conservatoriums at Orange and Bathurst.
Music in the Regions Executive Director, Janine Collins, said: “We are delighted to bring musicians of this calibre to a variety of interesting regional venues in the Central West, including historical former cement works The Foundations in Portland, All Saints’ Anglican Church in Canowindra, and the heritage Malachi Gilmore Hall in Oberon.
“Omega Ensemble are lauded nationwide for their exceptional world-class performances, an incredible cultural experience these regional audiences would usually have to travel to a city for but can now enjoy close to home.”
Founded in 2005, Omega Ensemble has a mission to champion extraordinary Australian musical talent through high-energy and impactful performance. The Ensemble presents an annual National Touring Program to metropolitan and regional cities across Australia and frequently appears in national cultural festivals. They have also twice toured to China, delivering concerts and masterclasses in Shanghai and Beijing.
Neil Thompson, Omega Ensemble violist. Image: Keith Saunders
Omega Ensemble Artistic Director, David Rowden, said: “At the heart of our Ensemble are the musical stories we share and the special connections we make with our audiences. We love performing all around Australia, but we haven’t played in Western NSW since 2018. It is such a beautiful region and we are delighted we can return again this year. After the past few years, we have really missed travelling!
“It’s wonderful to be supported by Music in the Regions on this tour. Building sustainable touring models for regional NSW is so valuable to an organisation like ours. It will allow us to deepen our connection to the region and return for many years to come.
“Chamber music is all about intimacy, so to perform in these unique smaller venues that are so intrinsic to the region and community is exactly what we love to do. It brings us all closer together and makes for a one-of-a-kind musical experience. It is one of the most rewarding parts of touring.”
Audiences on the Winter Regional Tour will be among the first in the world to hear a new work by legendary Australian composer Carl Vine, which Omega Ensemble commissioned especially for the program.
“It is a wickedly difficult Clarinet Quintet that really puts us through our paces. Coming straight off the back of premiere performances in Sydney and Newcastle just two weeks earlier, we’re so excited to be hitting the road with this new work as part of the program,” David said.
Paul Stender, Omega Ensemble cellist. Image: Keith Saunders
Of the Music in the Regions program, Janine Collins said: “After very successful regional tours, firstly with Acacia Quartet and then with guitarist Andrew Blanch and harpist Emily Granger, Music in the Regions remains committed to our mission of providing high quality classical music to regional audiences who are hungry for rich cultural experiences across the State.
“We have been overwhelmed with the positive reception our program has so far received, with 100 per cent of feedback from our first two tours indicating regional audiences would like to see more classical music concerts in their area in the future. And we are here to facilitate delivery of these transformative artistic events to them.”
Omega Ensemble principal musicians appearing on the Winter Regional Tour are: David Rowden, clarinet; Peter Clark, violin; Neil Thompson, viola; and Paul Stender, cello.
OMEGA ENSEMBLE WINTER REGIONAL TOUR AND COMMUNITY EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday 22 July - Forbes Town Hall
Saturday 23 July - Cooke Park Pavilion, Parkes
Sunday 24 July - All Saints Anglican Church, Canowindra
Tuesday 26 July - Orange Regional Conservatorium (Community Event)
Wednesday 27 July - Mitchell Conservatorium, Bathurst (Community Event)
Saturday 30 July - The Foundations, Portland
Sunday 31 July - Malachi Gilmore Hall, Oberon
For more information about Omega Ensemble’s Winter Regional Tour and to book tickets, please visit www.musicintheregions.com
About Music in the Regions
Music in the Regions (MitR) is an independent touring organisation established in 2022 to connect classical musicians with regional audiences and facilitate transformative musical experiences across New South Wales. These musicians will perform in regions not traditionally visited, reinvigorating regional venues into concert venues, and fostering a vibrant, world-class New South Wales classical music industry. MitR is supported by the NSW Government via Create NSW, and through private philanthropy.
About Omega Ensemble
Earning accolades such as ‘first-rate musicians’ (The Daily Telegraph), ‘the best chamber music outfit in town’ (SMH) and ‘one of Australia’s most forward-thinking ensembles’ (Limelight), Omega Ensemble was appointed as Ensemble-In-Residence at Sydney’s City Recital Hall from 2014-16, has been nominated for multiple APRA/AMCOS Classical Music Awards for Best Performance and Best New Work, and in 2019 was nominated for Artist of the Year in the Limelight Awards. For more information about Omega Ensemble please visit www.omegaensemble.com.au